Ugandan hydropower dam operators have been urged to tighten safety measures at their plants to prevent potential disasters.
Eng Dominic Mucunguzi, Assistant Commissioner for Water Sources, Planning, and Management at the Ministry of Energy, emphasised the importance of safety management, stating, “If these dams are exposed to danger, their breakdown affects many people in the country. Let’s all stakeholders in the power industry take this matter seriously.”
Every dam operator is required to have an Emergency Preparedness Response Plan (EPRP) covering key players in dam disaster response.
Eng Mucunguzi identified local leaders, police, and UPDF soldiers as crucial in dam disaster management, playing key roles in evacuation efforts during emergencies.
The EPRP is designed to mitigate the impact of dam failures, which can have devastating consequences, including loss of life, displacement of communities, and damage to infrastructure.
Eng Mucunguzi advised dam operators to regularly monitor water gates and reservoirs, as rising water levels in rivers and lakes can have severe consequences.
He downplayed concerns about current floods affecting the country, noting that they’re actually increasing water levels in dams, which might mitigate flooding risks.
Bujagali Energy Limited’s General Manager, Mr Alastair McDougall, said the plant has implemented digital alerts to mitigate risks.
“We recently sensitized the public in Kampala about the EPRP and now we’re here with the local community, preparing them on how to respond to risks,” Mr. McDougall said.
The sensitization meetings aim to guide stakeholders on emergency response procedures, including evacuation protocols and communication channels.
Eng Frederick Wasike, Head of Safety at Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited, emphasised that investing in EPRP is cost-effective.
“Managing preparedness is cheaper than disaster handling. Just imagine the cost of putting up a signpost warning the public about risky areas at the dam versus the expenditure of evacuation if there’s a problem,” he said.